Belarusian Citizen Under Espionage Charges In Poland Voluntarily Agrees To Serve His Sentence
- 16.09.2024, 11:52
He can spend two years and ten months in prison.
A citizen of Belarus, Uladzislau P., who is being tried in Poland for espionage in favor of Russia, agreed to serve his sentence voluntarily. He can spend two years and ten months in prison, MOST reports citing Wirtualna Polska.
In Poland, a defendant in a criminal trial can file an application for voluntary serving of a sentence. This is possible in cases where the guilt and circumstances of the crime are beyond doubt. Such a statement shortens the judicial process and in many cases leads to a lighter punishment.
On September 13, at a regular meeting of the District Court in Lublin, Uladzislau P. said that he agreed to spend two years and ten months in prison, as well as pay ten thousand zlotys (8,200 Belarusian rubles) of a fine, five thousand zlotys (4,100 rubles) to the Victims Assistance Fund and give 8,200 zlotys (6,700 rubles) received from Russian intelligence to the state.
The prosecutor and the court agreed to such a punishment, but the final announcement of the verdict was postponed. Uladzilau P. petitioned to change the measure of restraint, but the court refused, since the man does not have a permanent place of residence in Poland and can leave the country.
What is Uladzilau P. accused of?
The Belarusian was part of a group that collected information about Poland's transport infrastructure, including the one through which deliveries of military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine were carried out.
The members of the group had a curator with whom they contacted via Telegram, the investigation failed to establish his identity. In the messenger, he called himself Andriy, Andrzej, and Gabriel K., who is considered an officer of the Russian special services. The actions of the group were also led by other people using the nicknames Barbados, Pink, Mara, Secret Chat.
The maximum plan was to derail a train with military transport for Ukraine. A reward of ten thousand dollars was offered for this.
But in general, the tasks that the group members received from the curators were different. First of all, it is the observation of transport infrastructure and military facilities: seaports, airports, railway stations and military units of Poland. According to the Polish Prosecutor's Office, members of the group installed at least six surveillance cameras on the railway tracks, and GPS transmitters were installed on the trains. Thus, deliveries of military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine were tracked.
The performers were paid $300-400 for one camera installed.
Also, the group members received smaller tasks related to propaganda activities: they painted graffiti, pasted stickers and leaflets with anti-NATO and anti-Ukrainian slogans.
The performer got five dollars for each leaflet.
Also, the performers were allocated money for accommodation in hotels and for trips around the country. As the Prosecutor's Office found out, the defendants were paid in cryptocurrency.
What penalties did the other members of the group get?
Other members of the group who had previously agreed to serve their sentences voluntarily received sentences ranging from one year and one month to six years in prison. The court also imposed fines in the amount of 1,000 to 20,000 zlotys (from 820 to 16,500 rubles) and ordered the confiscation of funds obtained as a result of criminal activity.
Together with Uladzilau P., the Ukrainian Maksym L. is being tried. He voluntarily agreed to serve six years in prison. His punishment is more severe, since he was one of the leaders and was the first contact of "Andrey".